“Why do you have to analyze everything? Why can’t you just enjoy it?”
Recently, I encountered someone who was clearly disgruntled by the mixed reviews of the movie Fireproof. He responded to the critics’ observations by declaring that reviews aren’t really important…...
View ArticleThe Passion of the Christ – A Letter to Christians about Mel Gibson’s Film
This commentary is a follow-up to my review of The Passion of the Christ. - Most Christian press publications will lavish praise upon Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. They will celebrate the...
View Article“Hamlet, Threepio, and Us”
Anyone who can write an inspiring piece linking Rosencrantz and Guldenstern, The Hidden Fortress, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and R2D2, has my full attention. Ladies and gentlemen, Mark Shea!
View ArticleFurther Thanks to Christianity Today for a Generous Send-Off
Today’s unexpected notes from the team at Christianity Today have been a tremendous blessing to me at the end of a trying week. I am deeply grateful. And thanks to those of you who left comments for me...
View ArticleMystery and Message, or What We Talk About When We Talk About Art
No one has taught me more about considering and making art than “Mr. D.” That’s Michael Demkowicz, who was my high school English teacher, and who remains a dear friend to this day. Demkowicz is a...
View ArticleOn “Difficult” Movies
As we're in a season busy with film festivals, I'm reading reviews of what sound like extremely challenging movies. Some of those reviews sound like the kind of comments that might provoke filmmaker...
View ArticleTEN YEARS! Pt. 1: The Best of Looking Closer – 2004
This blog is turning ten! Let's look back a whole decade. What were the highlights here ten years ago?
View ArticleTen Years Ago Today…
Just marking the occasion… Seems to me the best way to mark the 10th anniversary of this blog is to point you to the essay that inspired it — a few words about art and discernment written by my friend,...
View ArticleThe Complete 2014 Christmas Playlist
It started as a spur-of-the-moment experiment. I asked Joe Henry if he’d be willing to share his Christmas favorites playlist. I so admire his music, the projects that he chooses to produce, and the...
View ArticleThis Is Not Goodbye. But It is… See You Elsewhere!
Attention, Looking Closer readers: This blog is moving! Thanks for three years of community here at Patheos. To find the new and improved Looking Closer, follow these instructions...
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